Fredrick, Md. – Dairy producers, supporters and youth were recognized at the Maryland Dairy Convention held Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Frederick Fairgrounds. A daytime educational conference was hosted by the Maryland Dairy Industry Association, followed by an evening Maryland Dairy Shrine awards banquet.
Four farms received the Dairy of Distinction award from the Maryland Dairy Industry Association during the Maryland Dairy Convention. From left are J.R. and Jessica Hess of Shenandoah Jerseys in Boonsboro; Richard Edwards, Scott Youse and Janice Edwards of Oakland View Farms in Ridgely; Donna and Jason Myers of Windsor Manor Farm in New Windsor; and Peggy and Arthur Johnson of Artie Jay Farm in Dickerson.
The highlight of the daytime event was the recognition of four farms with a Dairy of Distinction award presented by MDIA during the organization’s business meeting.
Honored farms were Artie Jay Farm, operated by Arthur and Peggy Johnson of Dickerson; Oakland View Farms, operated by Richard Edwards and Scott Youse of Ridgely; Shenandoah Jerseys, operated by Janet Stiles Fulton and J.R. and Jessica Hess of Boonsboro; and Windsor Manor Farm, operated by Donna and Jason Myers and Kelly Zepp of New Windsor.
The Johnsons of Artie Jay farm 250 acres owned and rented. They milk 50 registered Holsteins and raise 50 replacement heifers on the farm. The Johnsons are always working to improve their cattle, crops and the farm.
About 1,200 acres are farmed at Oakland View Farms with 700 milking head and 1,200 total head of Holsteins and Jerseys. The family’s management philosophy is to take the best care of all the animals every day, keeping them clean, dry, comfortable and well fed. In return, they are rewarded with happy, healthy cows that make great quality milk.
Shenandoah Jerseys encompasses 220 acres owned and 380 acres rented. The family milks 145 registered Jerseys. They say their goal is to achieve maximum milk production while closely watching fat and protein and maintaining good type. They recently increased crop acreage in order to grow their own feed and decrease feed costs.
At Windsor Manor, 150 acres are owned and an additional 150 acres rented. The family milks 65 Holsteins and Red and Whites and raises 100 replacement heifers. They strive to take good compassionate care of their cattle and the land.
During the MDIA business meeting, Jessica Hess of Shenandoah Jerseys in Boonsboro was elected to serve as a new director.
MDIA also presented Boyd Cook Memorial scholarships to Rachel Manning of Huntingtown and Carissa Doody of Union Bridge.
Manning attends West Virginia University and expects to graduate in 2012. She is an agriculture and extension education major. She has been active on the dance team and lacrosse and exhibits sheep, goats, hogs and cattle. Doody majors in dairy science with a pre-veterinary option at Virginia Tech. She is the Alternate Maryland Dairy Princess and was a National Holstein Young Distinguished Junior Member finalist.
The theme of the daytime event was “More Profit Through Better Cow Care and Dairy Policies,” and topics included animal care assessments, transition cow management, milk pricing and policy, and nutrient credits.
Afternoon breakout sessions allowed attendees to learn about cow care topics more in depth. Sessions focused on lameness and hock abrasion scoring, body condition and hygiene scoring, humane methods of dehorning and the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management program.
The Maryland Dairy Shrine banquet was held during the evening of the dairy convention. The event featured inductees Paul Spurrier of Union Bridge and Donna and Jason Myers into the Maryland Dairy Shrine and the presentation of scholarships and other awards.
Paul Spurrier, right, of Union Bridge was inducted into the Maryland Dairy Shrine during the organization's annual banquet at the Maryland Dairy Convention. Congratulating him is Maryland Dairy Shrine President Frank Walbert.
Spurrier was born and raised on a Guernsey farm and spent many years exhibiting them with his late wife Ruth and children Steve, Wayne, Margaret and Mark. He is heavily involved in the 4-H program leasing animals to youth and serving on the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association board.
Maryland Dairy Shrine President Frank Walbert, left, congratulates inductees Donna and Jason Myers of New Windsor during the Maryland Dairy Shrine banquet at the Maryland Dairy Convention.
The Myerses have established a well-known herd of Holsteins and Red and White Holsteins on Windsor Manor Farm. Both have been active in the national and state Holstein associations, and Donna is the 4-H superintendent at the Maryland State Fair.
Results of the Maryland Junior Dairyman Contest in which 32 youth participated earlier in the day were announced during the evening celebration.
In the junior division, Brook Hoff was first, Jonathan Hubbard was second, Dusty Hahn was third and Madison Spurrier was fourth. In the intermediate division, Sarah Manning was first, Shelby Sasscer was second, Shelby Hahn was third and Ryan Zimmerman was fourth. In the senior division, Mandi Ramsburg was first, Brandon Kahler was second, Carissa Doody was third and Jason Zimmerman was fourth.
Carissa Doody, left, of Union Bridge received a Boyd Cook Memorial Maryland Dairy Industry Association Scholarship and a Maryland Dairy Shrine scholarship. At right is Sarah Manning of Huntingtown accepting the Boyd Cook Memorial Maryland Dairy Industry Association Scholarship for her sister, Rachel Manning.
Maryland Dairy Shrine scholarships went to Doody, Tracey Forsythe of Hagerstown and Samantha Garst of New Windsor.
Forsythe attends Delaware Valley College majoring in agribusiness and minoring in horticulture. She is a member of the Dairy Society, National AgriMarketing Association and the indoor/outdoor track team. She is an overall winner with her Maryland Jersey recordbook and an honorable mention Maryland Holstein Distinguished Junior Member recordbook winner.
Garst attends Virginia Tech as a junior majoring in dairy science with a minor in animal and poultry science and equine science. She is active in the Dairy Club and has worked in the VT Mastitis and Immunology Lab. She hopes to continue her education at the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
Luke Trout received the Mid Maryland Dairy Veterinarians Scholarship, which was also presented during the banquet. Trout is a junior at Saint Mary’s College of Maryland majoring in biochemistry and biology with a minor in mathematics. He plans to continue his veterinary education. He is president of the Pre-Health Science Club and catcher for his college baseball team.
Jack King was elected as a new member of the Dairy Shrine, with David Patrick, Shirley Smith and Spurrier returning for another term.